Fire-extinguishing apparatus



C. C. JONES.

FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUGJ, 1919. 1,338,778.

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FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-7.1919.-

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CLIFFORD CLARKE JONES, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

FIRE-EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 'I, CLIFFORD CLARKE JoNns, a citizen of the United States, residing at lVashington, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in F ire-Extinguishing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fire extinguishing apparatus, and more particularly, to such apparatus adapted for use in connection with vehicles such as air-craft, automobiles, motor boats and the like which are usually provided with motors using gasolene or other highly combustible liquids as the motive fluid, and which are apt to develop fires at several different points at approximately the same time, and one of the objects of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is capable of operating upon and extinguishing such fires at widely separated points on the vehicle simultaneously.

To this end the invention consists in a fire extinguishing apparatus provided with a receptacle for a fire-extinguishing fluid having a suitable valved connection through which it is fed to a pump cylinder operated by pressure obtained preferably from the exhaust gases of the vehicle motor and stored in a suitable container or reservoir communication between which and the pump cylinder is controlled manually at the will of the operator of the vehicle, so that when it is desired to extinguish a fire a valve will be operated to permit the pressure to operate the pump piston to thereby force the fire-extinguishing fluid from the pump cylinder into a. plurality of automaticallyvalved leads or pipes to several points on the vehicle simultaneously. And the invention further consists in various details of construction and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter and finally claimed.

In the accompanying drawings illustrat ing the invention, in theseveral figures of which like parts are similarly designated,

' Figure 1 is a schematic sectional elevation showing the general arrangement of the de vice. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of a multiple nozzle connection. Fig. 3 is a detail of avalve mechanism. Fig. 4 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale, showing thepump operating mechanism. Fig. 5 is a sectional perspective view showing the valve Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 4, 1920.

Application filed August 7, 1919. Serial No. 315,866.

for controlling the admission of extinguishing fluid to the lead from the fuel tank, and.

Fig. 6 is a view of a modification showing a multiple way distributing valve chamber.

It is obvious that the invention may be embodied in a variety of mechanical arrangements of its several parts, but for purposes of illustration I have here shown it as comprising a tank 1 for containing a supply of a suitable fire-extinguishing fluid.

This tank is provided with a lead 2 connected with a pump cylinder 3 provided with a suitable piston 4. The entrance of fire-extinguishing fluid from the tank 1 to cylinder 3 is controlled by a check-valve 5, so that the cylinder may be filled with fluid from the tank 1' by gravity or by the receding stroke of the piston 4, but when once filled expulsion of the fluid from the cylind'er back into tank 1 will be prevented. The piston 4 expels the fluid from cylinder 3 through a plurality of pipes 6 connected with the cylinder 3 by means of a multiple nipple connection (Fig. 2), and these pipes lead to various parts of the equipment of the car, such for example as the carbureter float-chamber 7, the carbureter mixingchamber 8, the fuel tank 9, the fuel lead 10 to the carbureter from the fuel tank, and to such other points of fire risk as is desirable. I have here shown provision for only four pipes 6, but it is obvious that the number may be increased or diminished to suit the installation in question. Each of the pipes 6 is provided at a point adjacent its discharge end with an automatic controlling valve 11 (shown in detail in Fig. 3) comprising a chamber 12 provided with an inlet 13 and an outlet 14, and having the passage between these two obstructed by means of a butterfly-valve 16 held normally closed by a spring operated lever mechanism 17. This valve is opened by the pressure of the fluid from the cylinder 3, through the pipes 6, and is closed by the spring-operated lever mechanism 17 when said pressure is relieved. Leakage around the valve 16 will be prevented by the bushings 18. It will be understood that the tank 1 and cylinder 3 should always be situated at a level above that of any of the devices 11 so that when the cylinder 3 is filled with fluid, all of the devices 11 will likewise be filled.

The mechanism for operating the pump piston 4 is here shown as comprising a pres- 50 .1 lows :Fire-extinguishing fluid is poured into tank 1 until all of the devices 11 and the piston 24.

sure tank or reservoir 19 which may be supplied with pressure by utilization of the exhaust gases from the vehicle motor, or otherwise. This tank 19 is connected by means of a valved passage 20 with the op erating cylinder 21 of the pump piston 4, the valve 22 of the passage 20 being operated by a pedal 23 or other lever within reach of the vehicle operator.

The cylinder 21 is provided with a piston 24 on the piston rod 25 of the piston 4, shown most clearly in Fig. 4, whereby when pressure is admitted to the cylinder 21 the piston 4 will be driven forward to expel the charge of fire-extinguishing fluid from pump cylinder 3 through pipes 6. The pistons 4 and 24 are returned to normal position as shown in Fig. 4, by means of compression springs 26 working against abutments 27 on rods 28 and against the end of cylinder 3.

Trapping of pressure in either end of cylinder 21 is effectively prevented by means of inter-connected slide valves 29 provided with lugs 30 adapted to project intothe path of movement of and be acted upon by In order that the fire extin ishing fluid may be readily introduced into the lead from the fuel tank, or, for that matter into any closed pipe or chamber, I provide the device shown in Fig. 5 in which the fuel lead 10 is provided with a sliding section or gate 31 having an extension 32 adapted to travel in a chamber 33, the gate being held in normal closed position, as shown, by means of a spring 34 coacting with a guided sliding member 35 connected with the gate. It will be apparent that when this device is used the device 11 here hereinbefore described will be unnecessary.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a, modified form of the device 11 whereb instead of pro viding one of these devices for each pipe 6, there may be'a single large pipe 36 connecting the device 11 with the pump cylinder 3, and the discharge end. of. the cham ber 12 may be provided with a multiple nip ple connection 37 asshown in Fig. 2.

The operation of the device is as folthe chamber 30 in front of .theextension 32 are filled and the tank 1 also filled. The apparatus is now in readiness for operation. In case of fire, the operator manipulates the lever 23 thereby establishing communication between the pressure tank 19 and cylinder 21. The pressure of the gas in tank 19 now moves piston 4 forward through the action of piston 24 and rod 25 and forces the fluid out of cylinder 3.

through pipes 6, thus putting the whole system under pressure and forcing open thevalves 16 and the gate 31 and allowing the paring the device for another operation.

37' indicates -a tank having a' connection 38 with thecarbureter float chamber 7 and a connection 39 with the cylinder 3. The

function of these parts is to form a by-pass' for air and to induce a suction into tank 37 and thus promote the expelling or displacement of the contents of the carbureter through connection 38 into 37, from which it can be drained by the cook 40.

In the connection 38 and between the car- 'bureter and the tank 37 I may provide an automatic controlling valve 41 similar in construction and operation to valve 11.

It will of course be understoodthat I do not intend my invention to be limited to the particular structural features herein shown and described, as it is obvious that various changes are permissible within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims following.

What I claim is:

1. In a fire-extinguishing system for motor vehicles, and the like, provided with gasolene tanks and carbureters, in combination, a receptacle adapted to receive the exhaust fire-extlnguishing fluid and anv ejectmg mechanism connected with said receptacles, means for conveying said fluld to-points adjacent the gasolene tank and carbureter from said ejecting means, and manually con trolled means for placing said operating means in operation.

2. In a fire-extinguishing system for ases, a receptacle for containin a motor-vehicles and the like, provided 'with gasolene tanks and carbureters, in combination, a receptacle for containing a fire-extinguishing fluid, pipes leading from said receptacle to said carbureter and gasolene tank, a pressure-operated plunger coacting v with said receptacle to force the fire-extinguishing fluid throu' h" .said pipes, a source of pressure, manua y operated means for releasing .said source ofpressure-to move said plunger, andmeans associated with said carbureter to induce the displacement of the" contents thereof in advance of the inflow of the fire-extinguishing fluid.

3. In a fire-extinguishing system for motor vehicles and-the like, provided with gasolene tanks and carbureters, in combina- -tion, a receptacle adapted to contain a fire extinguishing fluid, pipes leading therefrom to the several points where fire may start,

pressure-operated means adapted 'to .eject the fluid from said receptacle, manually operated means for putting said pressure op-- erated means into operation, and means for automatically returning said piston and for refilling said receptacle when said manually operated means is released.

a In a firegextinguishing apparatus, the combination with a receptacle for containing a tire-extinguishing fluid, of a pumpcylinder having valved communication therewith, a piston in said cylinder, pressure-operatedmeans for advancing said piston. in said cylinder, a pressure reservoir having valved communication with said pressure-operatedmeans to cause the same to function, means for retracting said piston, pipes connected with said cylinder and through. which the fire-extinguishing fluid is conducted .to points of conflagration, valves in said pipes for maintaining them in fiuidfilled condition, and means for opening communication between said pressure reservoir and said pressure-operated means to cause said piston to advance and thereby eject the fluid through said pipes and past the valves therein.

5. In a fire-extinguishing apparatus, in combination a receptacle for fire-extinguishing fluid, a pressure recepta-ble adapted to receive the exhaust gases and provide a source of pressure, a pump cylinder having valved communication with said receptacles, a .pis-, ton working in said cylinder, a pressure operated piston for advancing the piston of said pump cylinder, manually operated means for releasingsaid source of pressure, springactuated devices for retracting said pumpcylinder piston, and means actuated by said pressure-operated piston for preventing cushioning thereof as specified,

In testimony whereof I aifix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

CLIFFORD CLARKE JONES.

Witnesses: I

F. M. Liam, F. L.'BROWNE. 

